Bottle carrier



April 2, 1946. E. H. ULBRICH 2,397,708

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 4, 1944 INVEN TOR.

1 Ernest 7/. (/JtW/C Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle carriers, and has for its object to provide a simple, efficient and economical device made of wood or similar material for carrying a plurality of bottles by hand.

The invention may best be understood. by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier constructed in accordance with my invention, with the locking handle shown in locking position in full lines, and shown in partially unlocked position in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, with two bottles secured therein.

- Figure 3 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken in line 4d of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view showing the three essential pattern forms used in making up the device.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, the carrier consists of a frame lil made of two laterally spaced parallel side bars l I, I I connected together at the opposite ends by upper and lower end bars l2 and [3, preferably fixed by any suitable fastening means to the upper and lower faces, respectively, of said side bars, so as to leave centrally disposed openings I5 and i6 at opposite ends of the frame between the side bars. In the form shown herein, a pair of guide members l1, l1, herein consisting of pins or nails, extend between each pair of end bars l2 and i3 at points spaced inwardly from the inner faces of the side bars II, II so that the end openings i5 and I6 are of less width than the distance between the side bars.

The side bars II, II are each provided with a plurality of equally spaced notches l8, l8 along the inner edges of such size as to receive the necks of standard bottles l9, l9 individually in close fitting engagement therein, as indicated in Figure 2.

A locking handle, preferably consisting of a single elongated slat-like member 20, is mounted for slidable movement through either of the central openings [5, l6 at opposite ends of the frame. Said locking handle is arranged so that when inserted in locked position in the frame its opposite ends extend through said central openings and have supporting engagement with the end bars [2, [3, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this locked position the side edges 2!, 2| of the locking handle 20 are spaced a predetermined distance from the notches l8, l8 along the side bars H, II so as to engage and hold the necks of the bottles from dropping through said notches. When the locking handle is withdrawn from opposite any one of said notches, a bottle can be inserted in or removed from said notch, as desired.

The locking handle 20 is provided with a centrally disposed slot 22, of such size as to receive the fingers of the hand, and thus provide a convenient handle for carrying the device, and to facilitate the endwise sliding movement of the 5 locking member, when necessary.

It will be observed that the locking bar or handle 20 is in such close proximity to the bottle I necks that when the fingers of the hand are passed through the slot 22 in grasping said handle, they will naturally be curved laterally so as to become inserted between the necks of two or more adjacent bottles as indicated in Figure 5, and thus hold the handle in locking position relative to the frame. In thismanner, no additional latch means are required to keep the locking bar from accidental disengagement with the end bars at opposite ends of the frame while the device is being carried. On the other hand, as soon as the carrying grip on the handle is released, the handle can be moved longitudinally in either direction to release the bottle necks from the frame.

For simplicity and economy in material and design, th frame and locking handle may be made up complete from only three essential pattern forms, all of fiat bar material, preferably wood, as shown in Figure 5. The pattern form A provides the end frame members l2 and IS, the pattern form B provides the locking handle 20, and the pattern form 0 provides the side bars. Ordinary nails can be used as fastening means to complete the structure. It will be understood, however, that the device can be made of other suitable material having the required strength and rigidity, if desired.

Although I have shown and described a certain embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a carrier for bottles or the like, the frame 45 consisting of two laterally spaced side bars each having a plurality of notches along its inner edge for receiving the necks of bottles individually therein, and end bars connecting said side bars together, and a locking handle slidable endwise 50 relative to said end bars between and parallel with said side bars, so as to secure the bottle necks in said notches when the ends of said looking handle are engaged with said end bars, said locking handle also having an elongated slot 55 therealong for permitting the fingers of the hand to extend through said handle, so as to include the bottles within the grip, of the hand and thus ERNEST H. ULBRICH. 

